Travel trends during times of high prices

NDO - Under the impact of soaring prices, people's travel trends have changed significantly. At the seminar "Tourism in the Time of Soaring Prices," organized by FLC Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. (FLC Hotels & Resorts), held on the afternoon of March 20th in Thanh Hoa, experts and travel businesses proposed numerous solutions to anticipate tourism trends in 2025.

Travel trends are constantly changing.

In 2024, Vietnam's tourism sector achieved many impressive figures, showing significant growth compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the number of international tourists to Vietnam reached nearly 17.5 million (a 38.9% increase); domestic tourists were estimated at 110 million (a 1.6% increase); and total revenue from tourism was estimated at approximately 840,000 billion VND (a 23.8% increase).

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), assessed: “The positive results of 2024 open up great prospects for 2025. In just the first two months of 2025, the number of international and domestic tourists has increased rapidly. The signals from both the international and domestic markets, the prospects and changing demands of tourists in a positive direction, will bring a new look to the tourism industry towards greater sustainability and long-term growth.”

According to Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research, tourism will remain a bright spot for Vietnam's economy in 2025. Domestic tourism will continue to be the main growth driver, along with the trend towards high-end leisure and experiential tourism. Customers are not only seeking budget-friendly trips but are also willing to spend more on quality services.

Furthermore, the tourism industry has recently witnessed noteworthy new trends. According to reports, multi-generational travel is becoming increasingly popular, with many families choosing to travel together to strengthen their bonds. The trend of budget travel and hunting for deals is also attracting significant attention from tourists, as they seek unique experiences at reasonable costs. In particular, the application of technology and artificial intelligence in designing travel itineraries and personalizing travel is becoming an inevitable trend, enhancing the experience and convenience for tourists.

Assessing tourism trends in 2025, Associate Professor Pham Hong Long, Head of the Tourism Faculty (University of Social Sciences and Humanities), believes that after the Covid-19 pandemic, tourists' experiences have become increasingly profound. Tourists are increasingly focusing on personalized experiences rather than simply sightseeing. Some notable trends include multi-generational leisure tourism combining exploration and entertainment, and the rise of health-focused, cultural, and culinary tourism.

Along with that, many trends related to customer needs and new types of experiences are emerging: visiting disaster areas, venturing into regions for in-depth experiences of local culture, cuisine, crafts, and lifestyles.

According to Associate Professor Pham Hong Long, changing tourism trends will pose a challenge for businesses developing tourism products, ensuring that tourists have new and unique experiences at affordable prices.

What can businesses do to stay ahead of the trend?

In the context of a volatile global economy, the tourism industry inevitably faces challenges. Inflation and rising prices have affected customer spending decisions, requiring tourism and hotel businesses to constantly innovate to adapt.

Ms. Tran Thi Kim Qui, Deputy General Director of FLC Hotels & Resorts, stated: "We are implementing several important strategies to meet the diverse needs of customers during this period of rising prices. These include focusing on improving service quality, diversifying products, optimizing costs, and especially emphasizing the personalization of customer experiences. We are integrating various amenities and applying technology in operations to provide the most complete experiences for our customers. In addition, we are strengthening partnerships with strategic partners, travel companies, airlines, online booking platforms, and tourism associations to jointly create high-value products and services that meet the increasingly stringent demands of the market."

According to Ms. Tran Thi Kim Qui, in 2025, the company developed all-inclusive combo packages, applying flexible cancellation and postponement policies and seasonal promotions. Simultaneously, it collaborated with transportation providers such as airlines and railways to create packages with competitive prices while still ensuring standard service.

Currently, FLC Hotels & Resorts is offering flight and resort packages from Hanoi to Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh), from Ho Chi Minh City to Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh); and a "zero-cost" railway travel experience package to Quy Nhon. In addition, the company has developed comprehensive experiential tourism packages encompassing accommodation, relaxation, and dining.

Emphasizing that people are a crucial factor for a business to compete, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Qui stated that human resources are vital and determine the differentiation of the FLC hotel and resort system. “Facilities can be built, product and service incentives can be created, prices can be reduced, but training passionate individuals who deliver dedicated service from the heart is the decisive factor for the success of any business,” Ms. Tran Thi Kim Qui affirmed.

According to Ms. Nguyen Hoai Thu, Director of Saigontourist's Hanoi branch, the trend of tourists choosing domestic destinations is predicted to increase significantly in 2025. Therefore, Saigontourist Travel focuses on developing products that offer unique experiences exploring local culture as well as journeys to discover delicious local cuisine, aiming to elevate the Vietnamese brand on the world map.

Ms. Nguyen Hoai Thu also noted that during periods of high prices, tourists are more likely to encounter scams. Therefore, tourists need to be more vigilant, choose reputable travel agencies, contact them directly via phone, and ensure they offer travel insurance, instead of booking tours on social media from unknown sources.

At the seminar, experts also provided insightful perspectives on the tourism market in the new context, along with practical solutions to help localities and travel businesses anticipate tourism trends.